Harry Harper was pronounced dead after being taken to Telford’s Princess Royal hospital on Tuesday morning. Photograph: West Mercia police/PA

The family of a week-old boy who died after being bitten by his family's jack russell dog have said that there are no words to describe their loss.

Harry Harper, who was born on 12 November, was attacked by the terrier while at his grandparents' house in Telford, Shropshire, on Tuesday morning. Police and paramedics were called to the house just before 8am but the baby died soon after being taken to Telford's Princess Royal hospital.

Harry's family released a statement through West Mercia police on Wednesday, asking to be left alone. "As a family we are absolutely devastated by Harry's death and have no words to describe the loss we have suffered," it said.

"We have no wish to speak publicly about yesterday's events and would ask that we are left in peace to grieve and begin to deal with our loss."

Police said it seems that Harry died as a result of a dog bite. Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jamieson said: "The dog in question was a family pet – a jack russell – and this animal has been put down.

"A postmortem will be taking place to establish the exact cause of this baby's death but at this stage it does appear to be a tragic accident."

Jamieson asked the media to report the incident as sensitively as possible, adding that the family was "devastated by their loss".

He added: "With an investigation ongoing, there is no further comment I can make on this matter apart from to say that all our thoughts are with the family of the baby at this extremely sad time."

Harry's mother has been named locally as Mikayla Bell, 19.

A neighbour of Bell's parents said the whole street had been shocked by the death. "It's very sad news," said Nigel Pitchford. "They only brought the baby home from hospital a few days ago."

Pitchford said that despite the jack russell's size, the dog was "very vicious". "I tried to post a Christmas card through their letterbox last year and it went for my hand as I posted it through," he said. "It was only small but a vicious little thing."

Other residents in the local area were reluctant to speak to the media about the tragedy, which was reported to have happened while Harry and his mother were at her parents' home.

One neighbour, who declined to give her name, told reporters: "It's very, very sad. Losing a baby must be heart-breaking however it happens, and they need to be left to grieve."

According to the NHS, there are around 6,000 cases of dog bites in the UK annually that are serious enough to need hospital treatment.

In 2010, there were two deaths of young children as a result of dog bites.